Aeroplane.



J. S. LANG.

AEBOPLANE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

Patented May 12, 1914.

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Patented May 12, 1914.

3 fiHEETS-SHBET 3.

II'AIIYEES S. LANG, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Application filed May 29, 1911. serialize. 630,115.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES S. LANG, of Boston, in the 'county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

My invention relates to an improvement in aeroplanes" and means for controlling the same.

The essential object of my invention is to provide for maintaining the equilibrium or balance of the machine and especially its lateral balance.

In this connection it is my further object to effect the lateral control of the machine without varying, or appreciably varying to a detrimental degree, the normal head-n resistance of the .air against the two sides of the machine which, if varied to an appreciable degree, interferes with the easy steering of the machine.

I have shown'my invention as applied to an ordinary biplane and also in a manner for controlling and maintaining the lateral balance of the machine. The adaptation and arrangement of the parts can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the machine in perspective. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 shows the same in plan. Fig. 4 is a side end elevation. Fig. 5 is a view mainly in longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the device to which, special reference will hereinafter be made. Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-'9 of Fig. 5.

Referring to thedrawings :-1 and 2 represent, respectively, the major or primary planes of the machine. These planes are arranged as is customary in the ordinary biplane construction. They are also fixed to and reinforced by the frame of the machine. In this connection attention is directed to the laterally-extending frame bars 3, 3 which extend along the front edges of .the respective planes and also the bars 4, 4

extending laterally along the rear edges of said planes. These respective sets of bars are connected at their ends and the respective" planes joined together at their four corners by intermediate bars or posts 5. At about the middle of the machine the respective sets of frame bars. 3, 3, 4, 4 are reinforced and connected by bars 6. Attached to the frame of the machine and especially to the bars 6. thereof are respective sets of bars 7, 7 running fore and aft and bearing the usual front and rear planes (not shown).

8, 8' represent the minor or secondarylateral controlling planes of the machine. The planes 8, 8' are relatively short planes, that is, with respect to the length of the major planes 1 and 2 between which the minor planes are arranged. The minor planes are supported and maintained in the following manner: Secured to the frame bars 3, 3 and 4, 4 at the outer ends ofthe major planes are series of pulleys 9 and 10 respectively. Secured also in the same manner and preferably to the frame bars 3, 3 4, 4, at points in'alinement with the inner edges of the respective minor planes, are series of pulleys 11, 12 respectively. Both sets of pulleys 9 and 11 and 10 and 12 are rectangularly arranged, the sets 9 and 11 at the front of the body of the machine an the sets 10 and 12 at the rear side thereof' Extending aroundand running on each of the respective sets of pulleys 9 and 10 are endless cords 13 and extending around and running on the pulleys 11 and 12 are cords 14 which connect with the cords 13. Ac cording to the disposition and arrangement of the respective cords 13 and 14 it will be observed that portions of the cords run between the major planes', one part thereof running in the direction of the top plane as the other part. runs in the direction of the lower major plane, assuming that the respective sets of cords are being turned to.

run over their respective pulleys in the same direction. It is to the intermediate parts of the respective cords that the minor planes are secured and this by any suitable mode of retention and with the efiect that as the cords are moved or drawn in one direction or the other the respective minor planes will be simultaneously moved by the cords in reverse directions with relation to the respective major planes.

It is evident that the minor planes may be moved on their controlling cords into positions between the two major planes where the two minor planes will occupy the same plane, or, in other words, positions Where I the two minor planes will be equidistant from the particular major plane, the lifting efiiciency of which they are designed and tending to control. These are the normal positions of the two minor planes and from such positions they are moved for increasing or diminishing the Iiftingefliciency of that plane with which they are cotiperating and to which they are adjacent.

In the construction shown the -minor planes are indicated beneath and cooperating with or adjacentto the top major plane 1 for varying the lifting efficiency of this plane. This is accomplished bymoving one or the other of the minor planes to approach the lifting face of 'the'major plane with the effect that as the minor plane approaches this face the air resistance against the major plane in that part approached by the minor plane on one side of the, machine is cut off as the machine is propelled through the air.

' The lifting efficiency of this minor or auxiliary plane is also diminished as the plane approaches the lifting face of the major plane. At the same time the other minor plane is moved farther away from that portion of the face of the major plane to which it is adjacent on the other side of the machine. I prefer that the minor planes when occupying their normal positions shall have such adjacent proximity to the working face of the major plane that both minor planes will impair to a slight degree the working efficiency of those portions of the face of the major plane to which they are adjacent on opposite sides of the machine as well as their own efficiency. The effect is accordingly obtained that as the one minor plane on one side of the machine is made to more closely approach the adjacent face of the major plane, diminishing the efficiency of such portion of the major plane and its own efiiciency, the other minor plane is moved in a reverse direction away from the adjacent.

working face of the major plane on the other side of the machine increasing the efficiency of such portion of the major plane as well as its own efficiency. It is also to be observed that the minor or auxiliary planes are so supported and controlled that they are moved translatably toward and away from the major plane with which they are cotiperating and during the movement thereof, or whatever their adjusted positions may be with relation to the major or primary plane, the angle of incidence presented by these minor or auxiliary planes to the atmosphere during the operation of the machine, remains unchanged.

The practical effect of the arrangement above described is that if the machine tends to become unduly unbalanced or elevated upon one side, the minor plane upon that side is moved into closer proximity to the major plane diminishing the lifting efficiency roaaata of the major plane for that side. At the same time greater efficiency is given to the working surface of the major plane on the other side of the machine by the reverse movement of the other minor plane which is moved away from the adjacent portion of the major plane and thereby its efficiency is increased. When the machine has been restored to a proper position of equilibrium then the two minor planes are restored to their normal positions.

I have arranged whereby the reverse movements of the minor planes may be obtained either automatically or by hand as occasion may require. The occasion often arises when the machine encounters air tending to suddenly unbalance the machine by imparting less resistance to its one side than the other on which account it becomes desirable to provide whereby the minor planes may be moved automatically to meet and overcome these conditions and after which the minor planes may be returned to their normal positions.

For effecting either a hand or automatic control of the minor planes there is provided the following apparatus: Secured to'the under fore and aft bars 7, 7 of the frame at about the center of the machine,are fixtures 15, the heads of which are grooved to receive and guide the shanks of a series of T- shaped bars 16. These bars are circularly arranged with the heads of the bars lying inwardly and so far separated from one another as to form between the heads an elongated interior chamber or box in which is contained a coiled spring 17. The spring is retained laterally by the respective heads of the bars disposed around it and is retained against longitudinal movement at its respective ends by the heads of the respective bars turned in uniformly to form stops 18 against which stops on all the bars the opposite ends of the spring are adapted to normally bear.- \Vith the spring thus contained it is apparent that if any of the bars less than the whole be moved longitudinally and the remaining bars beheld fixed, the spring will be contracted by the stops on the moved bars drawing against one end of the spring as the spring is being held at its opposite end by the stops on the fixed bars. When the force is removed from the moved bars the tension of the spring will act to return these bars to their normal positions or to a position corresponding with that of the fixed bars. It is apparent also that all of the bars and the spring may be moved together longitudinally in the fixtures 15. Secured to a portion of the bars 16 and preferably to the upper andlower bars according to their relative arrangement is a clamp, or what I shall hereinafter call a controller 19. Fas tened to this controller in any suitable manner are a series of cords 20 which connect with the respective endless cords 13 and 14 which bear and control the respective minor planes.

The cords QO'are arranged to connect with the cords l3 and 1 1 in such manner that as the controller is reversely moved by the sliding of the bars to which the controller is attached in the fixtures 15, a corresponding relative movement will be imparted to the cords 13 and 14 for varying the positions of the minor planes carried by these cords. In other words, according to the position of the machine shown in Fig. 1, if the controller is moved to the right, the controlling connections or cords will act to move the minor plane 8 in the direction of the major plane 1 on one side 'of the machine and the I minor plane 8 away from the major plane on the other side of the machine or if the controller is moved to the left a reverse movement of the planes is obtained. The arrangement of the parts is also such that when the minor-planes are in their normal positions as above described all the other working parts will also be in their normal positions, including the bar 16, and the controller 19. The cord connections will, also, be as taut as ossible, that is, slack in any of the cords 1s avoided. Attached to the sliding bars other than those to which the controller 19 is secured, or to the side slidingbars, is secured another clamp member 21 which I shall term a holder. This holder may be secured to any fixed portion of the machine for holding it and the side sliding bars, to which it is secured, in a stationary position. From the arrangement of these parts it will be seen that the minor planes are arranged to maintain their normal positions, but they are-yieldingly maintained in such positions by the spring 17 with the following mode of operation and effects: In the first place it is apparent from the arrangement and operation of the parts already described that the controller 19 may be moved laterally in either direction against the tension of the coiled spring, contracting the spring either by force imparted to the minor planes or by manual force imparted directly to the controller.

In the event of the machine encountering air of unequal pressure for the two sides of the machine, causing it to become overbalanced and incline laterally, thereupon, such pressure being unequal against the two minor planes will disturb thebalance of these planes from their normal positions and cause the one on the side of the machine where the pressure is greatest to yield (by,

the contraction of the spring 19) and approach that portion of the major plane to which it is adjacent and accordingly lessening the lifting efiiciency of this side of the machine. At the same time the other minor plane on the other side of the machine will be moved farther away from that portion of the major plane to which it is adjacent and increase the lifting efiiciency of that side of the machine where the pressure is less. Thereupon the tendency of the machine is to become restored to a position of equilibrium. Thtse ai: disturbances are usually not long continued and when the pressure again becomes equal upon the two minor planes, the pressure tending to contract the spring then being removed, the spring will expand and assume its normal position andthereby act through the sliding bars, controller and inplanes to their normal positions which continues until further disturbances are automatically compensated for in the manner above described.

Instead of an automatic control for the minor planes these planes may also be controlled by hand simply by moving the con troller 19 in one direction or the other. By such movement either. one of the minor planes may be made to approach the major plane for diminishing the efliciency for either side of the machine as occasion may require. The movement of the controller in either direction will cause the spring to be contracted with the effect that when the manual force upon the controller is removed the spring will tend to expand and restore all the parts including the minor planes to their normal positions, assuming that the air pressure is equal orsubstantially equal on both minor planes. It may also be seen that the construction is one to which a further automatic control for varying the positions of the minor planes may be easily applied. In other words, instead of fixing the holder 21 to some stationary part of the machine it may connect with some automatic controlling device (not shown) acting to move the holder reverselv in either direction and so vary the positions of the minor plane's acting as the immediate agents for correcting the unbalancing of the machine which the automatic'controlling device (not shown) is designed to over ome. IVhen force is applied to the holder for laterally. moving this member the movement of the holder will cause no contraction or appreciable contraction of the spring 17, but the movement s0 effected will, through the sliding bars to which the holder is affixed and the spring, cause the other sliding bars to which the controller19 is secured to slide longitudinally in the fixtures 15. In other words, all the bars will slide in either direction depending upon the direction that the force is initially applied, causing the controller carried by the bars, through the interposed connections, to vary the positions of the minor planes depending upon the direction the initial force is tending to move the holder. I

All the automatic or manual control of termediate connections to restore the minor the minor planes may. be carried on independently, both kinds of automatic control it more than one be employed, working in combination and these checked, if necessary, by the hand control,

It is unnecessary to point out the advantagesto be derived from the above described apparatus. Attention, however, is directed to one essential advantage to be derived from using auxiliary planes on opposite sides of a machine which cooperate with a main plane for effecting a lateral control of the machine by increasing or diminishing the lifting etliciency of such plane by the moving of the auxiliary planes into or out of coordination therewith. By such means of control the head-on resistance of the air against the two sides of the machine remains substantially the same whatever the posi- "'ons of the minor planes may be. It the iting ei'liciency of the machine on any side is diminished by bringing any auxiliary plane into effective coordination with one of the planes on that side impairing the chiciency of that plane, yet by reason of the proximity of the two planes the air becomes choked between them as the machine is propelled which has the effect of maintaining the resistance of the air against that side of the machine and balancing the resistance of the air against the other side of the machine where the lifting efiiciency of the plane may even be increased.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States y l, a main plane, or" means for varying the lifting etliciency thereof, the same comprising separate auxiliary planes oppositely arranged and each movable translatably toward or away from said main plane, means :or mounting said auxiliary planes whereby they may be moved translatably toward or away from said main plane in rerersely opposite directions, one to approach said main plane as the other is moved away therefrom and without changing the angles of incidence to the atmosphere of said auxiliary planes, and means for moving said auxiliary planes as aforesaid.

an aeroplane, the combination with nooaaaa 2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a main lifting plane, of separate auxiliary lifting planes oppositely arranged adjacent said main plane and movable translatably toward or away from the same for varying the lifting efliciency thereof, means tor mounting said auxiliary planes whereby they may be moved translatably toward or away from said main plane in reversely opposite directions, one to approach said main plane as the other is moved away therefrom and without changing the angles of incidence to the atmosphere of said auxiliary planes, and means for moving said auxiliary planes as aforesaid.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination with a main lifting plane, of separate auxiliary planes located on opposite sides of the machine adjacent said main plane and movable translatably toward or away from said main plane for varying the lifting elliciency thereof, means for mounting said auxiliary planes whereby, they may have a normal balanced position with relation to each other and said main plane or be moved reversely in opposite directions, the one to approach said main plane as the other is moved away therefrom and without changing the angles of incidence to the atmosphere of said auxiliary planes, and means for moving said auxiliary planes as aforesaid.

In an aeroplane, the combination with main lifting plane, of separate auxiliary planes located on opposite sides of the ma chine adjacent said main plane, means for yieldingly mounting and arranging said auxiliary planes whereby they may have a normal balanced position with relation to each other and said main plane or be moved reyersely in opposite directions, one to approach said main plane as the otherbecomes moved away therefrom without changing the angles or" incidence to the atmosphere of said auxiliary planes, by pressure oi? air against one or the other of said auxiliary planes during the operation of the machine.

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